https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0bwsNpW7pxaZGQ5ZTYzOTUtMjllMC00MWZlLTk5NmItYzAyYTEwNWEzZjIz&hl=en&authkey=CIbppI8F
Notes:
Key Leaders Come Together
• Group of leaders known as the Big Four dominate
peace talks:
- U.S. president Woodrow Wilson
- French ruler Georges Clemenceau
- David Lloyd George of Great Britain
- Vittorio Orlando of Italy
Wilson’s Plan for Peace
• Wilson proposes Fourteen Points—outline for
lasting world peace
• Calls for free trade and end to secret alliances,
military buildups
• Promotes self-determination—right of people to
govern own nation
• Envisions international peace-keeping body to
settle world disputes
The Versailles Treaty
• Britain, France oppose Wilson’s ideas; want to
punish Germany
• Allies, Germany sign accord, Treaty of
Versailles, in June 1919
- creates League of Nations—international
organization to keep peace
- blames Germans for war, forces Germany to
pay damages to nations
- League to rule German colonies until deemed
ready for independence
The Creation of New Nations
• Versailles treaty, other peace accords change the
look of Europe
• Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire all
lose lands
• Former Ottoman lands in Southwest Asia turn
into mandates
• New countries created in southeastern Europe;
Russia gives up land
A Peace Built on Quicksand
• Treaty of Versailles creates feelings of bitterness
on both sides
• German people feel bitter and betrayed after
taking blame for war
• America never signs Treaty of Versailles
- many Americans oppose League of Nations
and involvement with Europe
• Some former colonies express anger over not
winning independence
• Japan, Italy criticize agreement; gain less land
than they want
